A sports message will help give your muscles and any surrounding soft tissues the care they need. After you’ve undergone a session, you will wreak the benefits. Your muscles will be properly stretched out and able to grow bigger and stronger than ever before. If you’re dedicated to improving your fitness, you’ll wonder how you ever went without a sports massage before.

If you are a regular runner/cyclist, triathlete or athlete etc. a sports massage is a must.

For these more demanding types of exercise, you need to protect not only your joints but your muscles as well. 
A sports massage can be recommended before, after and ongoing after a big event. The purpose is to prevent any injury occurring. Because your body is put under more stress, you need to ensure your muscles are strong enough to build upon repair and fatigue.
Having a sports massage prior to an event is designated to stimulate the possible affected areas. The purpose after, is to normalise the muscles and help with repair after strenuous activity. If you are a regular athlete, a sports massage will help increase blood flow to the targeted areas and help improve overall performance. Your body will thank you.

In addition to this, even if you don’t undertake any strenuous activity, a sports massage can still benefit your life. 
If you’ve had any sort of injury, a sports massage can help breakdown scar tissue. Scar tissue can lead to muscles becoming inflexible and causing pain. A tailored massage will promote the likelihood of a recurring pain never coming back. 
It’ll even help with general mobility if you don’t undertake exercise. Our muscles naturally become rigid over time and a sports massage is a great place to start if you’re thinking of entering the world of exercise or just need to stretch out.

Using certain techniques will warm your muscles and flush any toxins out. This will breakdown tension and identify any pain stored in the muscle. 
It should be noted that a sports massage isn’t like your standard aromatherapy massage. It is designed to be applied deep within the muscle and therefore creating less pressure on the joints.

What to expect

Prior to your sports massage you will undergo a consultation. This will take approximately 60 minutes. This will go over your general health and your main reasons for visiting. By doing this, you can voice any concerns and ask any questions if it’s your first time. Even if you’ve had one before with another practice, it is an ideal way to get to know your body to devise the best cause of action. The sports massage itself uses a range of specific techniques which will be decided upon, depending on your concern. A few types of technique to expect include:

• Cross fibre: Working against the muscle to clear bio-mechanical stress
• Compression: Applying direct pressure to trigger points, for affective breakdown
• Broadening strokes: Lengthening the muscle to increase the range of movement
• Effleurage: Slower stroking techniques, which warm up the muscle and increase blood flow
• Petrissage: A deeper technique to breakdown lactic acids and other waste
• Tapotement: Cupping or hacking muscles, ideal for before event to stimulate
• Stretch/release: Contracting and relaxing of a certain muscle to build mobility

After a plan has been put in place, you will be ready for your first session. This will last 30-45 minutes, depending on the area.  
Prior to your massage, it is recommended you eat a light meal two hours before. This will prevent any discomfort rather than having a full stomach.
Sports massages may cause mild discomfort, but this will pass in time. Because the muscle is being targeted, it will be an unusual sensation. It can be described as a satisfying pain, as you feel the tension melt away. 
Especially after your first session, you may feel soreness for a few days after and this is completely normal. It’s almost like when you do a new workout for the first time and you feel a bit achy. 
After each session you are advised to drink plenty of water and remain hydrated. This is due to the toxins being released from your body; you want to promote this process to ensure a positive recovery to your muscles.

However, a sports massage won’t cure you overnight. You must persist if you can, to get the best out of your sessions. Especially if you’re an athlete.

The benefits:

A sports massage is an investment into your health. Not only does it promote wellbeing, it comes with an endless set of benefits to both your mind and body.

• For a start, it’s relaxing
• The massaging techniques decrease the level of cortisol and increase serotonin. These are your feel-good hormones, that help reduce stress and anxiety. 
• If you’re a migraine sufferer and carry tension in your neck/shoulders, a sports massage can alleviate these feelings of pressure.
• It increases blood flow
• It enhances posture
• It improves strength
• It promotes recovery
• It gives flexibility
• It reduces pain

Related questions

What is the difference between a sports massage and a deep tissue massage?

A sports massage focuses on soft tissue and muscle whereas a deep tissue massage, is an even deeper pressure massage on an affected area. This can be done in an aromatherapy sense or by a sports masseuse. It targets deeper layers of the body.

How often should I get a sports massage?

This is all down to your personal situation. If you are a regular long-distance runner, a massage every few weeks would benefit you, in comparison to a gym goer who can get away with once every four weeks.

During a consultation you can discuss your options and devise a plan most suitable for your needs.